In London, Amy Lawrence reports EPL club Arsenal's latest company accounts reveal that Owner Stan Kroenke "has taken a payment" of $5M out of the club, a move that "has gone down badly with Arsenal supporters." The $5M figure "tallies with the amount the club raised from a 3% rise on season-ticket prices for this season." The money "has been paid to Kroenke’s company, KSE LLC" (GUARDIAN, 9/24). Also in London, Jeremy Wilson wrote Arsenal has stressed that employees of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment "have worked with the club across a wide variety of sectors and initiatives since the takeover in 2011 and that the payment simply reflects this" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/23). In Denver, Nicki Jhabvala noted the $5M was "paid to Kroenke’s company for 'strategic and advisory services' related to the soccer club’s broadband division" (DENVERPOST.com, 9/24).
COURT REPORT? In San Jose, Mark Purdy notes it is approaching the "one-month anniversary" of 49ers DE Ray McDonald's arrest for domestic violence, and "we have heard nothing about the San Jose Police Department's report on the case -- or whether the Santa Clara County district attorney plans to file charges." It is "safe to say that when the 49ers adopted their initial strategy on McDonald's situation, they figured it would be resolved one way or the other by now." Purdy: "One mistake they seemed to make was thinking that his status and his story would take place in a vacuum. But how could it?" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/25).
BACK TO BASICS: The Yankees yesterday were eliminated from playoff contention, and in N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes they will "surely give hope to their fans this winter." It is a "reliable formula: They pay lavishly for big-name talent, the roster looks sturdy, and fans and sponsors renew their commitments." Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner "must now decide if he wants changes in the front office." Yankees Senior VP/Baseball Operations Mark Newman, who "oversees the farm system, is retiring." GM Brian Cashman’s contract also "is expiring, but it seems unlikely" that he or Amateur Scouting Dir Damon Oppenheimer "will be replaced" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/25).
STRETCH PLAY: Pirates GM Neal Huntington said that the team's front office is "re-evaluating how they distribute payroll and what their maximum limit is for a paying a single player." He added the Pirates are prepared to "stretch beyond our normal comfort zone" to retain C Russell Martin, who will become a free agent after this season. In Pittsburgh, Travis Sawchik notes one "internal financial maxim that will remain constant is this: The Pirates believe they have to pay players for future projected performance, not past performance" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 9/25).
